Thursday is the NBA’s version of Monday Night Football. There are only two games, but top-tier competitors are pitted against one another when the schedule is first created.
Injuries and players on rest limited the star power on Thursday, December 19, but the two games had a significant level of entertainment value. Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s games.
1. The Oklahoma City Thunder battled the short-handed Chicago Bulls and emerged victorious by a score of 107-95. Russell Westbrook was 7-of-12 for 20 points and 10 assists, and Reggie Jackson scored 18 points off of the bench to continue his Sixth Man of the Year campaign.
Joakim Noah scored a season-high 23 points and added 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block, but Chicago fell to 9-16 overall and 3-11 on the road. That’s Chicago’s worst record through 25 games since 2007-08.
Looking for Bulls tickets? Look no further.
2. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 32 points, nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block on 13-of-20 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Durant leads the NBA with 13 games of at least 30 points scored and continues to top the NBA at 28.7 points per game.
3. The Thunder improved to 21-4, which gives them the best record in the NBA. OKC is also the last team to be undefeated at home, moving to 13-0.
4. Despite playing without Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the San Antonio Spurs went on the road to defeat the Golden State Warriors 104-102. Marco Belinelli (28), Kawhi Leonard (21), and Patty Mills (20) all posted season-high scoring totals during San Antonio’s win.
Is there any question about which is the deepest and best-coached team in the NBA?
5. During the loss, Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 30 points, 15 assists and four steals. Curry is the first Warriors player since Baron Davis on November 9, 2006 to post at least 27 points, 15 assists and three steals in the same game.
Davis had 36 points, 18 dimes, eight boards and three swipes during his performance.
Bonus Fact: David Lee posted a game-high 32 points and 13 rebounds to give him seven consecutive double-doubles.
Bonus Fact: Golden State scored 102 points, but only three players were in double-figures and just four tallied at least eight points.
Maxwell Ogden is a regular contributor to Sheridan Hoops. Make sure you follow him on Twitter.
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